How to succeed with your plantings this summer

Before you start buying different plants, Niklas suggests that you first think about the atmosphere you want to create on your balcony or patio. Do you want fragrant, colorful summer flowers for a burst of color? Or trailing and climbing plants for privacy? Or perhaps edible plants and herbs?

The location of the balcony or patio

You also need to consider the location of your balcony or patio. Is it sunny, partially shaded, or shaded? Plants simply have different requirements for thriving in different locations. – If your balcony or patio is often in the shade, I suggest flowering plants like fuchsia, snowdrop, and lobelia, which do well in shady spots. These can be combined nicely with a hardy foliage plant like ivy. If, on the other hand, you have a sunny spot, petunias, geraniums, and star-of-Bethlehem are good choices. Star-of-Bethlehem comes in many different colors and is easy to care for. A foliage plant that pairs well with these is the hanging ivy, which has a silvery-gray color and hangs beautifully from the pots, says Niklas.

Climbing plants that provide privacy

If you’d rather have climbing plants on a trellis to provide privacy, nasturtiums or sweet peas are great options. Both add a lot of color, and sweet peas smell wonderful. “There are also perennial climbing plants that work well on a balcony or patio.” Clematis prefers a sunny spot, while Virginia creeper is a good choice for shady areas, says Niklas.

Edible Plants and Herbs

Vegetables and herbs are also great for growing in pots and can be a nice addition to your balcony or patio. Some tomato, wild strawberry, and strawberry plants are also perfect for growing in hanging baskets. “One herb I recommend is lemon verbena. It has a strong lemon scent, and the leaves are a great way to flavor fish, poultry, marinades, and even your drinking water,” Niklas suggests.

Peat-free soil and organically grown plants

Be sure to plant in large pots so there’s room for the plants to grow. The pots should have a drainage hole in the bottom, with a saucer underneath to prevent water from dripping onto your neighbor’s property. If you plan to overwinter the plants, it’s best to use pots that are cold-hardy. If you choose to plant in balcony boxes, make sure the boxes are placed on the inside of the railing. Feel free to choose a peat-free potting mix designed for container gardening; this is usually more climate-friendly than soil containing peat. “I think you should primarily buy organically grown plants; otherwise, there’s a risk of introducing pesticides that are harmful to bees,” says Niklas. You should also choose plants that are grown in Sweden.

Water and Nutrition

How often the plants need to be watered depends on the location of the balcony or patio. If it gets a lot of sun, you may need to water them every day, while in shady spots, once a week may be enough. Niklas suggests checking the soil to make sure it feels moist. “After a while, the nutrients in the soil will run out, and then it’s time to add a small amount of liquid plant food to the watering can when you water. But don’t over-fertilize—that can lead to poorer flowering,” Niklas concludes.